7-year-old twins orphaned by crash, California officials say. ‘Unimaginable tragedy’

Described as “high school sweethearts,” Gregory Ammen and Grace Spiridon “loved their daughters more than anything in the world,” family members say.

Now their 7-year-old twins, Madison and Olivia, face growing up without their parents following a fatal collision in Redwood City on Friday, Nov. 4, the Redwood City Pulse reported.

Ammen and Spiridon died when a vehicle plowed into their vehicle at 8 p.m. on their way home from a family dinner, KRON reported.

The 17-year-old driver of the other vehicle and his two 15-year-old passengers were slightly injured, as were Madison and Olivia, The Daily Journal reported.

An investigation into the crash continues, Police Chief Dan Mulholland said in a statement.

“There are no words to express the magnitude of this loss,” Mulholland said. “We are all mourning this tragedy together.”

Mayor Giselle Hale of Redwood City also expressed her “deepest sympathies” to the family and said counseling will be available to students and first responders.

Ammen, 44, and Spiridon, 42, grew up in Palo Alto and were residents of nearby San Carlos, according to The Redwood City Pulse. They met in middle school and began dating in high school.

The two “were the light of every party they went to,” brother Michael Ammen told the publication.

“The fact that they were taken away like this is heartbreaking,” friend Stephanie King told The Redwood City Pulse.

“The world lost two beautiful souls, and leaves two amazing girls without parents,” a GoFundMe established to help their daughters said.

“Grace and Greg were outstanding people and lights of love, support and inspiration to countless friends, family, co-workers and their community,” the fundraiser said. “Nothing mattered more to them than Madison and Olivia.”

The GoFundMe, established Sunday, Nov. 6 by Spiridon’s sister Liza, had raised more than $368,000 as of Wednesday, Nov. 9..

Mayor Sara McDowell of San Carlos told The Daily Journal that she was heartened by the generous response to the “unimaginable tragedy.”

Police responding to the collision found both vehicles on the sidewalk, with the one driven by the 17-year-old on fire, a Redwood City Police Department news release said.

Ammen and Spiridon were trapped inside their vehicle and were pronounced dead, the release said. Police ask anyone with information to call 650-780-7111.

The 17-year-old driver of the other vehicle, which some witnesses have said may have been street racing, could face charges, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told The Daily Journal.

“We do believe the evidence shows the death of the two people was the result of his criminal behavior,” Wagstaffe told the publication.

Redwood City is a community of 84,000 people about 25 miles south of San Francisco.

This story was originally published November 9, 2022 at 8:25 AM with the headline "7-year-old twins orphaned by crash, California officials say. ‘Unimaginable tragedy’."